The Payton College Prep Grizzlies will face off against the Whitney Young Dolphins at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Payton College Prep took a six-run loss the last time they faced off against Von Steuben, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Grizzlies had just enough and edged out the Panthers 3-2. The victory was a breath of fresh air for the Grizzlies as it put an end to their four-game losing streak.
Derek Patton was excellent, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one run and one double.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Whitney Young). They blew past Ogden International 18-6 on Wednesday. Winning may never get old, but the Dolphins sure are getting used to it with their sixth in a row.
Ryan Bove made a big impact while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, pitching 2.2 innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has become a key player for Whitney Young: the team is 2-1 when he allows at most one hit, but 8-9 otherwise. Bove was also big at the plate, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with three stolen bases and three runs. Those three stolen bases gave him a new career-high.
In other batting news, Luke Yolich was a standout: he went 3-for-4 with three runs, three RBI, and one triple. That's the most hits he has posted since back in April of 2024. Kingsley Evans was another key player, going 2-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and two RBI.
Whitney Young always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .643. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Payton College Prep's win bumped their record up to 8-11. As for Whitney Young, the victory got them back to even at 10-10.
Payton College Prep came up short against Whitney Young when the teams last played back in April of 2024, falling 9-4. Can the Grizzlies avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
